Doxycycline should not normally be used for STI post-exposure prophylaxis

2015-16 flu vaccine effectiveness assessed in PHE report

The 2015-16 influenza vaccine effectiveness has been calculated at 57.6% in children and young people aged 2 to 17 years. However, the vaccine effectiveness was 29.1% for adults aged over 65 years.

In its provisional end-of season results for the 2015-16 flu season, Public Health England said that overall influenza vaccine effectiveness was 52.4%, consistent with previous estimates. Vaccine effectiveness among younger adults (18-44 years) was 55.3%, and for those aged 45-64 years was 55.4%.

Children and young people had been given the vaccine by nasal spray (CNSV). PHE noted that “similar evidence of CNSV effectiveness has been reported in Finland, in contrast to the USA where it has been reported that CNSV has been less effective.”

PHE’s latest HPR newsletter points out that in the 2014-15 season when CSNV was piloted among primary school-aged children, “there was not only a 94% reduction in GP influenza-like illness consultation rates in the children themselves (and a 74% reduction in A&E respiratory attendances and a 93% reduction in hospital admissions among children) but also, in the same pilot areas, a 59% reduction in GP consultation rates for ILI in adults, compared to non-pilot areas.”

PHE will publish a fuller report on seasonal flu vaccine effectiveness later in 2016.

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